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(No Model.)

B. J NOYES.

MUNICIPAL SIGNAL APPARATUS.

Patented Mar. 22, 1887.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2. B J. NOYES.

MUNICIPAL SIGNAL APPARATUS.

No, 359,686. Patented M21122, 1887..

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NITED TATES PATENT rricn.

BERNIOE J. NOYES, OF BOSTON, iiASSAOHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MUNICIPALSIGNAL COBIPANY, OF PORTSMOUTH, N. H.

MUNlClPAL SIGNAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,686, dated March22, 1887.

0 ad whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BnnNron J. Noyes, of Boston, county of Suifolk, andState of lllasszr chusetts, have invented an Improvement in MunicipalSignal Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection withthe accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on thedrawings representing like parts.

This invention has forits object to constructa simple and efficientapparatus, by means of which different signals can be transmitted from asub-station to a central station to meet the requirements of a municipalor police signal system.

In accordance with this invention, the multiple signaling device isemployed at the substation, which may be operated to transmit severaldifferent signals which are divided into two classes, signifying theirimportance, and a messageu-cceiving instrument is employed at thecentral station to receive the signals trans mitted by the multiplesignaling device, and an audible alarm is also employed at the centralstation, which gives notice to the attendant when a message of oneclass-in this instance the important classis being received or awaits areply.

The multiple signaling device consists of a signaling-surface containingseveral signals wound about a cylinder, and a pen is provided toco-operate with the signaling-surface to transmit whatever message orsignal is set up as the cylinder is rotated.

The devices herein shown for revolving the signal-cylinder to set up asignal consist of keys of different construction, dcp ending upon whatsignal is desired to be transmitted, each key being so designed that itcan only be employed to transmit a certain signal or certain kind ofsignals. At the central station a relay is included in the main-linecircuit, the armaturclevcr of which controls a local circuit, in which amessage-receiving instrument, herein shown as an ordinary recorder orregister, is located, the said relay responding to total interruptionsof the main line caused by the multiple signaling device. An audiblealarm, herein shownas a vibrating bell, is connected in a groundcircuitconnected with the main line, and each sub-station is pro- App icationfiled May 5, ISSG. Serial No. 20!,133.

(No model.)

vided with means for closing the ground branch or terminal, to therebycause the said vibrating bell to respond while the groundcircuit isclosed, the relay controlling the lo cal circuit not being effected bythe groundcircuit.

In another application filed by me May 5, 1886, Serial No. 201,134,devices are shown for operating the multiple-signaling device, as areherein shown; and a receiving-instrument for recording the messages, aswell as an audible alarm, was also shown, but operated by a current ofdifierent character.

It is herein designed, as in the application referred to, that thepatrolman shall transmit his patrol or on duty signal, and also shall beable to transmit any special or want signal necessary, and that certainauthorized citizens shall have access to the box or sub-station totransmit a signal when in need of assistance. The receiving-instrumentatthecentral station is arranged to respond to all signals, whetherpatrol, special, or a citizens signal; but the audible alarm is arrangedto be responsive to only the special or citizens signal, the twolast-named signals being ofspecial importance and demanding immediateattention, while the former need little attention.

Figure 1 shows in perspective a multiple signaling device and itscooperating parts removed from the box or inclosing-case; Fig. 2, a rearside viewof a portion thereof; Fig. 3, a rear side view of a portion ofthe faceplate, showing thekey-hole and limiting-stops; Fig. 4, a portionof the key that is carried by a citizen; Fig. 5, a key carried by thepoliceman, the shank portion being broken away; Fi 6, a diagram of onesub-station and a central station connected in circuit; Fig. 7, a detail of the contact-pen, to be referred to; and Fi 8, a modification tobe referred to.

The multiple-signaling device consists of a cylinder, A, having a worm,a, wound thereon, the said worm being notched or provided with insulatedportions a, to thus form a signaling-surface wound about a cylinder. Acontact-pen, c, is provided, normally bearing upon saidsignaling-surface, the end of the said pen having two prongs bent atright angles therefrom, which bestride the said signal lug-surface, andthereby cause the pen to fol- ECO low as the cylinder is revolved, thepenbeing. connected with a block, a, by a pin, a", turn ing freely in ablock, a".

The signaling-surface a a is provided with a series of cams, 6, similarto that shown and described in the application Serial No. 201,134,referred to, which as the cylinder is revolved causes the pen 0 to riseto be engaged and held in its most elevated position by twospringlatches,ff, depending from an overhanging arm, f attached to theblock a" by the pin (i but insulated from the said block, so that as thepen cis turned on its pivot in one or another direction the arm f willbe correspondingly moved.

Suitablyshaped pins are placed upon opposite sides of thesignalingsurface adjacent to the cams or projections e, which strike thebev eled ends of spring-arms ff, spreading them to release the pen 0,that it may again come in contact with the signalingsurtace after havingbeen disengaged therefrom. An arm, a, having a bifurcated end, isattached to the under side of the pen 0, normally disengaged from thesignaling-surface, but lying so near thereto that as the pen 0 is raisedby the cam or projection e the arm a will bestride thesignailing-surface and bear upon the cylinder A.

In Fig. 1 I have only shown one signal indicating the box-number; but itwill be understood that as many signals may be out upon the worm orthread as occasion may require, and that the cylinder may be rotated inboth directions, similar to that described in the application referredto, wherein one break-wheel was shown having several signals thereon.The cylinder A is mounted upon a shaft, 1), having a squared end and abent pin, b, the latter being engaged by suitable key to rotate thecylinder.

It being designed, as previously described, to transmit different kindsof signalsas, for instance, a patrol, special, and citizcns signalthekeys employed to revolve the cylindeer are of different construction,and together with their co-operating devices can only be used for thepurposes intended. In this instance Fig. 1. shows the cylinder in itsnormal position, and when revolved in the direction of the arrow 2 thecitizens signal and also any special or want signal is set up, and whenturned in the direction of the arrow 3 the patrol-signal is set up. Todo this the keys shown in Figs. 4 and 5 are employed, that shown in Fig.5 being carried by the patrolman, and to enable him to transmit hispatrol-signal the end marked patrol is employed, it having the shortprojection n and the squared socket (in dotted lines) which fits thesquared end of the shaft 1) to turn it, the projection a bearing againstthe stop son the under side of the dial, and preventing rotation of theshaft in that direction, but to permit rotation in the oppositedirection, as shown by the arrow, Fig. 3, until the said projection itstrikes against the stop 8.

To transmit any special signal the opposite end of the said key isemployed, it having a projection, n, a recess, a out therein, and acylindrical socket, 72 that it may turn freely upon the squared end ofthe shaft b, the projection a bearing against the stop 8 to preventrotation in the direction of the arrow 5, but permitting rotation in thedirection of the arrow 6 any desired distance.

To transmit the citizens signal, the citizen carries the key shown inFig. 4, it having the longest projection in, so that when inserted inthe key-hole k the said projection will bear against the stop 8*,preventing rotation in the direction of the arrow 5, but permitting rotation in the direction of the arrow 6 so far as to strike thelimitingstop 8, this being a sufti cient distance to transmit thebox-number, which alone it is desired the citizen shall be capable ofdoing.

At the central station a relay, R, is interposed into the main lineL,-having the battery B, the armature-lever 'r of which controls a localcircuit, L, which latter includes a recorder or register, R, which willrespond to interruptions in the main circuit, and, as described, allsignals transmitted, whether patrol, special, or citizen, cause a totalinterruption in the current, and are therefore duly re corded upon thereceivinginstrument R.

It is desirable when any special or citizens signal is transmitted thatan audible alarm be sounded to indicate the fact, calling the attentionof any person at the station. To do this a ground branch or circuit, L,is connected with the main line L, having the battery B and thevibrating bell V,whi1e at the sub-station a contact pen or point, 0, isconnected with a groundtermina-l normally adjacent to but disengagedfrom the arm f", which latter is made of conducting material, so that asthe said armf is moved in one direction (and in this instance in thatdirection to set up any special or citizens signal) it will make contactwith the said pen or point 0, closing the ground-circuit and causing thebell V to respond during the time that thesignal is being set up. Thepen 0 at such time,bein g elevated and retained by the spring-latchesff, causes the arm a to engage with the cylinder A, thus keeping themain circuit closed while the ground-circuit is closed.

The contact-pen 0 and arm f and the cooperating devices constitute acircuit-controller to change the condition of a current of differentcharacter from that employed by the multiple-transmitter fortransmitting the sig nals. The contact-pen o is placed in such proximityto the arm f that upon any move. ment of said arm sufficient to set up aspecial signal the said contact-pen will be struck, it

yielding to compensate forthe various signals upon the cylinder A.

By referring to Fig. 7, the contact-pen 0 and arm a are shownindependent, and it will be seen that the guide-pieces at the end of arma are a sufficient distance apart to bestride the signaling-surface, andalso to insure contact with the cylinder A, the ends of the saidguidepieces,when the arm a ispressedinto engagement, bearing directlyupon the cylinder.

As the pen 0 is released from the engaging latches f f theground-circuit isimmediately broken, and the cylinder A, while returningto its normal position, transmits the signal set up.

It is obvious that an annunciator-drop might be included in the groundbranch or circuit, which would control the local circuit in which thevibrating bell might be placed, as shown in Fig. 8, and, if desired, themultiple signaling device could be employed for many other purposesbesides policesignalin A cylinder being employed, about which thesignalsurface is wound, a large number of signals can be accommodated ina small space and at little cost.

Any other suitable transmitter may be employed at the sub-station totransmit the various signals than that herein described, the singlemessage-receiving apparatus at the central ofiice receiving the same,while the audible alarm responds to such as have hereinbefore beentermed the important signals.

1. In a system for transmitting signals from a sub-station to a mainstation, a multiple signaling device located at the substation forproducing changes in the main circuit to trans mit a message, and acircuit-controlling device, also located at the sub-station and operatedmechanically by the multiple signaling device at the will of theoperator for producing changes in another circuit, to transmit a warningsignal, a messagereceiving instrument located at the main station toreceive the message transmitted over the main circuit by v the multiplesignaling device, and an audible alarm, also located at the mainstation, responsive to the changein the current produced by thecircuit-controlling device at the substation, all substantially asdescribed.

2. In an electric circuit, the combination, substantially as described,of the multiple signaling device located at the sub-station fortransmitting'several different signals, a circuit-controlling devicealso located at the sub- J station for changing the condition of acurrent of different character from that employed to transmit thesignals, a message-receiving instrument at the central stationresponsive to all signals transmitted by the multiple transmitter, andan audible alarm, also at the central station, responsive only to thecircuitcontrolling device at the sub-station.

3. In an electric circuit, a signal-transmitting apparatus consisting ofa signaling-surface wound spirally about a rocking cylinder and a penco-operating therewith, means, substantially as described, for removingthe pen from its contact with the signaling surface as the cylinder ismoved in one direction and to restore the pen to its normal conditionthat it may pass over in contact with the signalingsurface as thecylinder is moved in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

4. In an electric circuit, a signal-transmitting apparatus consisting ofa cylinder having a signaling-surface thereon and a co-opcrating penmade both laterally and vertically movable, to be disengaged from thecontacting surface, and provided at its contacting ends withguide-pieces to follow upon the signalingsurface as the cylinder isrevolved, all substantially as described.

5. The combination, substantially as described,ofa multiple signalingdevice for sending two or more different signals over an electriccircuit of one character when revolving in one direction, it consistingof a cylinder having a signaling-surface wound thereon and aco-operating pen, and a circuit-controlling device for changing thecondition of a current of another character as the cylinder is re volvedin the opposite direction.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

BERNICE J. NOYES.

Wi tn esses:

F. CUTTER, G. M, Conn.

